BFB Headlines (Friday September 29, 2017) Several area firefighters battled a gas line fire in Bingham Township Thursday….Sweden Township cabin destroyed by fire early Friday….Coudersport resident arrested for sexual assault….State police at Mansfield say farmer was justified in killing a dog attacking his sheep…..Former Galeton woman is spearheading effort to help Hurricane victims in Puerto Rico…..Pennsylvania’s statewide archery season opens Saturday…..Next on-air report after 12:06 pm on www.blackforestbroadcasting.com

A potential disaster in Bingham Township, Potter County was averted yesterday by quick thinking fire fighters from The Tri-Town Fire department in Ulysses and Harrison Valley. Tri-Town Chief Luke Lampman told Black Forest Broadcasting that firefighters were first summoned at 5:42 am for a wildfire on the Rowley Road at the intersection of the Johnston and Bunnell Roads. First responders found an electric line had come off a ignited grass and woods underneath. Flames were shooting about 12 feet into the air and extended about 30 feet along the road. Moments after arrival, fire fighters determined a gas line was on fire and moved their operation into a safe area to await the arrival of Pennelec and UGI personnel. There was no damage except to that section of the gas line and Chief Lampman said no one in the area was without gas service during the operation because UGI installed a bypass although some area residents did lose electricity. The fire was declared under control at 11:31 am. Rowley Road was closed until about 3:30 pm. There were no injuries. The Genesee department stood by under themutual aid system. Chief Lampman could not say enough about the coordination of the departments, Potter County EMA, the involved utilities and 9-1-1 dispatch..

Coudersport volunteer fire fighters were called to a structure fire in Sweden Township at about a quarter after 4:00 am. First responders found a cabin behind Potato City fully engulfed in flames and the chief asked for a second alarm which brought in Roulette, ,Austin Tri- Town departments and the Port Allegany Rapid Intervention Team. Shinglehouse stood by for Roulette. The blaze was declared under control less than an hour later. Tad Ostroski, Coudersport Third Assistant Chief told Black Forest Broadcasting News that the cabin, owned by Potato City was a total loss. It was occupied but no one was home at the time. There were no injuries. It is too early to determine the cause of this morning’s fire.

An 18 year old Coudersport resident has been arrested for indecent assault. Coudersport based state police allege Ray Pelchy, Jr. performed sexual acts on a juvenile victim on Bank Street in Coudersport on the afternoon of May 9. He has also been charged with corruption of minors.

Mansfield based state police say no charges will be filed in a cruelty to animals case. Troopers report the incident began last Thursday, September 21` on the South Bullock Road in Richmond Township when a Husky dog owned by Glenn Hough of Cogan Station escaped from his pick up truck and went into an enclosed pasture where it began attacking a sheep owned by 85 year old Ned Kocher. The farmer cornered and shot and killed Hough’s husky. The sheep died a few days later due to the injuries from the dog and police said Kocher was justified in shooting his dog to protect his livestock.

State police at the Coudersport barracks are asking neighbors in Abbott Township to help them find the source of loud noise. Troopers have been called several times to Mountain Top Lane over the past month but have not found the source. Anyone who can help them is asked to call the barracks at 814.274.8690.

During yesterday’s board meeting, Potter County Commissioner Susan Kefover recognized the efforts of former Galeton resident, Kelly Thompson, to help the hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. Kefover reported that Thompson had gathered $140,000 through her initial work; a Philadelphia representative has arranged for a warehouse to accept material to be transported and Thompson will be setting up an office next week in Galeton to continue her work. She and her daughter fled the island before the hurricane but it was 10 days before she knew if her husband had survived. He was spotted during coverage of the recovery efforts. He and his parents are reported to be safe although food and water supplies are becoming scarce. Kefover has a list of reputable organizations accepting donations. Call her at the Commissioners’ office, 814.274.8290.

Pennsylvania’s statewide archery deer season begins Saturday, Sept. 30, and its return is prompting the Pennsylvania Game Commission to issue some helpful reminders.

Archers statewide can hunt for antlered or antlerless deer from Sept. 30 to Nov. 11, and during the late archery deer season, which runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 13.

Archery hunters may use long, recurve or compound bows, or crossbows. Bows must have a draw weight of at least 35 pounds; crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds.

The Game Commission encourages hunters to spend as much time as possible afield this fall prior to and during the hunting seasons to pattern deer movements and identify areas where fall foods are abundant.

“Food availability changes year to year based on a number of factors, and in areas where food is spotty, deer will move to find it,” said Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. “That means last year’s hotspot might be somewhere else this year, and the only way to know for sure is to get out there and find it.

“Even after the season begins, tracking changes in deer activity, their movements and the foods they’re targeting are keys to success, especially early in October,” Burhans said.

Bowhunters are urged to take only responsible shots at deer to ensure a quick, clean kill. Archery and crossbow hunters should take only broadside or quartering away shots at deer within their maximum effective shooting range – the farthest distance from which a hunter can consistently place arrows or bolts into a pie pan-sized target.

Hunters may use illuminated nocks for arrows and bolts; they aid in tracking or locating the arrow or bolt after being launched. However, transmitter-tracking arrows are illegal.

Tree stands and climbing devices that cause damage to trees are unlawful to use or occupy unless the user has written permission from the landowner. Tree stands – or tree steps – penetrating a tree’s cambium layer cause damage, and it is unlawful to build or occupy tree stands screwed or nailed to trees on state game lands, state forests or state parks.

Hunters are reminded portable hunting tree stands and blinds are not permitted on state game lands until two weeks before the opening of the archery deer season, and they must be removed no later than two weeks after the close of the flintlock and late archery deer seasons in the WMU being hunted.

Tree stands placed on state game lands also must be conspicuously marked with a durable identification tag that identifies the stand owner. Tags may include the owner’s name and address, the CID number that appears on the owner’s hunting license, or a unique identification number issued by the Game Commission. Identification numbers can be obtained at The Outdoor Shop on the Game Commission’s website.

Safety tips for bowhunters

Make sure someone knows where you’re hunting and when you expect to return home. Leave a note or topographic map with your family or a friend. Pack a cellphone for emergencies.

Always use a fall-restraint device – preferably a full-body harness – when hunting from a tree stand. Wear the device from the moment you leave the ground until you return. Don’t climb dead, wet or icy trees. Stay on the ground on blustery days. Keep yourself in good physical condition. Fatigue can impact judgment, coordination and reaction time, as well as accuracy.

Always carry a whistle to signal passersby in the event you become immobile. A compass and matches or lighter and tinder also are essential survival gear items to have along. An extra flashlight bulb also can be helpful.

Use a hoist rope to lift your bow and backpack to your tree stand. Trying to climb with either will place you at unnecessary risk.

Don’t sleep in a tree stand! If you can’t stay awake, return to the ground.

Always carry broadhead-tipped arrows in a protective quiver.

If you use a mechanical release, always keep your index finger away from the trigger when drawing.

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for all equipment and check your equipment before each use.

Practice climbing with your tree stand before dawn on the opening day of the season. Consider placing non-slip material on the deck of your tree stand if it’s not already there.

Never walk with a nocked, broadhead-tipped arrow or bolt.

Cocked crossbows should always be pointed in a safe direction.

Venison care

While hunting in October often offers pleasant days afield, the warm weather also presents challenges for successful deer hunters in assuring harvests result in high-quality venison.

Especially in warm weather, harvested deer should be field dressed quickly, then taken from the field and cooled down as soon as possible. While hanging a deer carcass in a shady area might be fine in cooler temperatures, if the air temperature is above 50 degrees, hunters should refrigerate the carcass as soon as possible.

Information on warm-weather venison care, as well as instructions on deer processing and other tips, are available on the white-tailed deer page on the Game Commission’s website, www.pgc.pa.gov.

Hunting in Disease Management Areas

All who hunt and harvest deer within either of the state’s Disease Management Areas (DMAs) must comply with special rules aimed at slowing the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Pennsylvania.

The prion that causes CWD is concentrated in high-risk deer parts including the head and backbone, and these parts may not be transported outside the DMA.

It is legal to remove meat, without the backbone, from a DMA. The skull plate with attached antlers, also may be removed if no visible brain or spinal cord material is present.

Harvested deer can be taken to a cooperating taxidermist or deer processor associated with a DMA in which they’re taken, and the processed meat and/or finished taxidermy mounts may be removed from the DMA when ready.

Successful hunters who intend to do their own processing and who need to transport deer meat or other low-risk parts outside a DMA may stop by one of the many disposal sites established within the DMAs.

By the start of the statewide archery season, collection bins where hunters can drop off the heads of the deer they harvest to have their deer CWD-tested for free also will be set up at sites within the DMAs. Meanwhile, the backbone and other deer parts may be deposited at high-risk parts dumpsters set up in some of the same locations.

A list of all parts-collection sites is available on the CWD information page at www.pgc.pa.gov. Lists of cooperating processors and taxidermists also are available on that page.

CWD always is fatal to the deer and elk it infects. In Pennsylvania, it’s a growing threat to the state’s deer and elk, and its hunting tradition.